Here’s Everything You Need To Know About The PS4

Can you believe that the PS4 launches in just a little over two weeks in North America? With its launch, the next generation will truly begin and gamers everywhere will be treated to the improved visuals and new methods of gameplay that new consoles bring with them.

Now, you may have a few lingering questions regarding the PS4 and its impending launch. Perhaps you want to know when it launches in a certain territory, or perhaps you just want to know what games will be available on November 15. Sony has the answers to those questions and a lot more in a new exhaustive FAQ up on the PlayStation Blog.

For starters, when does the PS4 launch in other territories? We know it will hit North America on November 15, but what about our friends across the pond? If you paid attention during Gamescom, you’d know that the PS4 will launch in Europe on November 29. Europe isn’t the only one getting it that day though as Latin American will also see the console launch on the 29. Unfortunately, Japan has to wait until February 22, 2014 to get their hands on it.

Next up, what will the console come with on day one? Here’s the official list from Sony:

You’ll get a PS4 system with a 500GB hard drive, a DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller, a micro-USB cable for charging the DUALSHOCK 4 controller, a Mono-headset for voice chat, a power cable (1.5m), and an HDMI cable (2.0m).

Sony notes that the PS4 has an internal power supply so there will be no power prick – just like the PS2 and PS3 before it.

On the hardware side of things, Sony confirms that the PS4 will come equipped with a 5400 RPM SATA II hard drive. You can install your own hard drive as long as its no thicker than 9.5mm and larger than 160GB. An internal replacement will be your only option for upgrades as Sony confirms that external storage will not be supported on the PS4.

As for the actual power of the system, Sony claims the PS4 is ten times more powerful than the PS3. Here’s the full description:

PS4 is capable of 10x the processing power of the PS3 system. The system features an optimized design featuring a unified 8GB of high-speed GDDR5 RAM, an eight core X86 CPU, and a powerful graphics processor. Generally speaking, PS4 will enable game developers to build larger, more detailed worlds than they could with the PS3 system. More realistic lighting models, more complex physics and particle effects, more varied and realistic character animations, sharper environment and object textures, higher screen resolutions (up to 1080p), higher frame rates (up to 60 frames per second), larger multiplayer matches and more will be possible thanks to PS4’s next-generation hardware.

A few other interesting tidbits regarding the hardware include the fact that the PS4 can’t play audio CDs, will allow the use of your real name and Facebook profile photo on your PSN ID and doesn’t support media streaming from a PC.

Moving onto games, Sony confirms that PS4 games will cost $59.99 at retail. It does leave open the possibility that the digital versions of these games may cost loss though.

Unfortunately, Sony also confirmed once and for all that the PS4 won’t be backwards compatible with any PS3, PS2 or PSone titles. The lack of backwards compatibility for PS3 titles certainly makes sense, but the PS3 can play some PS2 and most PSone titles through software emulation. It seems like it would pretty easy to enable such functionality on the PS4, but Sony has yet to comment on it.

In regards to Remote Play, Sony says that most PS4 titles will support the feature. It does caution, however, that the Vita be on the same network as the PS4:

Remote Play will work best when the PS Vita system is located within the same WiFi network where PS4 is connected. We also recommend that PS4 be connected to the local area network via an Ethernet cable, that a router suitable for gaming be used and that the PS Vita system be within close proximity of the WiFi access point so that the connection is free of interference.

Moving on to PlayStation Plus, you may have heard that Sony will require PS4 owners to subscribe to the service if they want to play online. Aside from that, here’s everything else PS Plus enables on the PS4:

Instant Game Collection
Access to a regular, curated selection of titles made exclusively available to PlayStation Plus members at no additional cost. The PS4 titles available on Instant Game Collection at PS4′s launch in North America will include Resogun and Contrast.

Discounts
Members will have access to exclusive discounts on PlayStation Store.

Online Game Save
Members may automatically (or manually) upload game save files to Online Game Save Storage for safekeeping. Up to 1GB of cloud storage will be allocated to your PS4 save files.

Other benefits
Early access to exclusive game content, automatic game patch downloads and installation, and more.

Sony notes, however, that all the accounts on any one PS4 system can play online as long as one account has a PS Plus subscription. Even non-PS Plus members who sign in on your console under a temporary guest account will have access to online multiplayer for the duration of their being signed in to your console.

If you just don’t want PS Plus at all, here’s everything you can do on the PS4:

Hi I am going to be in America when PS4 launches, will it work in England if I bring one back

Peter

You will need a power adapter but I would believe the games should work

Roberto

Everything sounds fantastic for the PS4, ONLY one thing though.. I very much dislike that we have to pay for online through Playstation Plus. I mean, isn’t it enough money they make from the games plus expansions they bring out?? EA Games charges you 10.00 to play online if you transfer the BR Disc to another PS3. Its getting too expensive it seems.

John

PS+ is a fantastic feature. the only reason I never paid for it was because I also had XBL, which is the same price. EA will also be looking at these fees as a lot of other companies are dropping theirs, most recently Ubisoft. PS+ will also most likely offer you 2 games a month for free, probably once the PS4 library is a good enough size as this is a popular feature for users on PS3 just now. just think of your PS+ subscription as your XBL subscription instead. hope this helps you lean towards it a little!

Peter

I will not buy the PS4 until they make one that will play my PSone, PS2 & PS3 games. Period! Just as I never upgraded my PS3 beyond 80GB because of backwards compatibility. Way to go SONY for alienating your customers!

John

with respect, the very last thing I’ll want to do on my shiny brand new PS4 is play a PS3 game. most of my PS1,2 and 3 titles are on PSN anyway. this would have been a popular feature for me as well but it’s not the end of the world either. if you want an example of alienating customers then you should have a look at what microsoft originally had in store for the Xbox one!

Snow

Backwards compatibality, should be one of the main thing to be on a new console,

Christine

I want to get a mobile gaming environment for my husband to take on his deployment, and I want to get him a ps4 for Christmas.. I’ve noticed that there won’t be a brick so I was wondering what to look for in current available mobile gaming environments (to see which one/s will be compatible). If none will be compatible- is there a website that updates about gaming environments.. Or something like that? Lol I’m half-lost but I hope someone understands. (: TIA.